Pneumatic cotton-picker.



' No. 763,389. PATENTBD JUNE 28, 1904.

R. GETZLAFF. PNBUMATIC COTTON PICKER.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 13.1904.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SEEBT 1.

ZZCZO Gezaf Witnesses Inventr, 0%

ttornegs No. 763,389- I PATENTBD JUNB28, 1904.

A R.. GETZLAFP.

PNEUMATIC COTTON PICKER.

APPLIOATIGN FILED APR. 13. 1904. No MODEL. 2 sums-'SHEET 2.

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Inventor.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE..

PNEUMATIC COTTON-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,389, dated J une 28, 1904.

Application ined April 13, 1904.

T0 all whom, it muy concern,.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLF GETZLAFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amsterdam, in the county of Decatur and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Pneumatic Cotton-Pickel', of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton-picking devices in which a current of air is set up in a tube by means of a suitably-arranged fan or blower, the same discharging'into a receptacle, the suction thus produced serving to remove from the plants the open bolls which are ready for picking and to convey thee same through the tubular conduit and through the blower mechanism into the receptacle provided therefor.

The present invention has for its object t'o provide a device of this class which shall posscss superior advantages in point of simplicity and durability and which shall be thoroughly feasible, practical, and eicient in operation.

Vith these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it being, however, understood thatI do not necessarily limit myself to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but reserve the right to all changes, alterations, and modifications which come fairly within the scope of the invention and which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cotton-picking machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the same.

Corresponding parts in both figures are indicated bysimilar numerals of reference.

In the form of embodiment of the invention herein illustrated is included a platform 1, sup- Scrial No.n 203,008. (No model.)

' ported upon wheelss2 and 3, the former being the front wheels and the latter thehind wheels. A spring l1 anda bolster 5 may, if desired, be interposed between the front wheels and the front end of the platform. The platform supports at its front end a seat 6 and at its rear end a seat 7. Suitably supported intermediately upon the platform is a light but capacious receptacle 8, with which is connected the discharge-tube 9 of a fan-casing 10, which is likewise suitably supported upon the platform. The fan-casing is provided on opposite sides thereof with air-intakes connected 'with the branches of a bifurcated pipe 11, which is connected by means of a suitable joint with a flexible pipe or tube 12. The branches of the bifurcated pipe 11 have bearings for the fan-shaft 13, which carries within the casing 1() a fan 14 of ordinary construction. The bearings for the fan-shaft arepreferably in the nature of tubes 15, extending through the branches of the bifurcated pipe in the direction of the hub of the fan andl practically contacting therewith, so as to prevent possibility of cotton becoming wrapped upon the fan-shaft when the latter is in operation, and thus interfering with its free rotation.

The fan may be driven by any suitable means; but in the drawings has been illustrated a sprocket-wheel 16 upon one end of the fan-shaft, said sprocket-wheel being connected by a chain 17 with a sprocket-wheel18 upon one of the transporting-wheels 3 of the machine. 4

The flexible tube 12 carries at the extremity thereof a funnel 19, Whichconstitutes the inlet. I prefer to provide said funnel with a hood or flange 2O at the lower edge thereof, in order that it may more efficiently engage the plants that are to be operated upon, as will be presently described. The funnel 19 is constructed of sheet metal, and suitably connected therewith, as by means of rivets 21, is an upwardly-extending rod 22, provided at its upper end with handles 23, which are preferably bent in the semblance of a bicycle handle-bar. These handles, it will be observed, can be conveniently grasped by an operator seated upon the rearwardly-facing IOO seat 7, who by means of said handle and rod will be enabled to perfectly control the movement of the intake-funnel at the end of the exible tube 12. Foot-rests 24 and 25 may be provided for the driver as well as for the operator seated upon the rearwardly-facing seat of the machine.

In operation the machine is driven over the field, the draft-animals walking on either side of the row which is straddled by the machine, the running-gear being of suiiicient height to su pport the platform at a height where it will not injuriously interfere with the plants. The operator occupying the seat 7 will firmly grasp the handle-bars and is enabled thereby to direct the intake-funnel against the growing plants, scraping loosely over the same, as will be readily understood, the intake funnel being of an area suflicient to cover a large portion of the cotton-plant. The progress of the machine will be sufficiently slow to enable the operator to so manipulate the intake-funnel that it will be brought into Contact with practically every portion of each plant, and the ripe cotton which is ready for picking and which is therefore easily loosened will become readily detached by the suction set up by the fan and will be conveyed through the tube l2 and through the fan-casing and the dischargepipe of the latter into the receptacle 8.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isl. In a device of the class described, a wheelsupported platform, a receptacle supported thereon, a fan-casing having a discharge-spout connected with said receptacle, a flexible tube connected with air-intakes in the sides of the fan-casing, a driven fan in the latter, a funnel at the free end of the flexible tube, an upright rod connected with said funnel, a handle-bar at the upper end of said rod, and a seat supported upon the platform convenient to said handle-bar.

2. In adevice of the class described, a wheelsupported platform, a forwardly-facing seat at the front end of said platform, a rearwardlyfacing seat at the rear end of said platform, an intermediately-supported receptacle, a fancasing discharging into the latter, a bifurcated pipe connected with air-intakes in the sides of the fan-casing, a driven fan in the latter, a flexible tube connected with said pipe, an intake-funnel at the free end of the flexible tube, an upright connected with said funnel, and a handle-bar at the upper end of said upright convenient to the operator seated in the rearwardly-facing seat at the rear end ofthe platform.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLF GETZLAFF.

Witnesses:

M. C. STEGALL, I). L. ONEAL. 

